Well, I really, *really* like, for an all-purpose deer rifle, my sporterized 94 Swedish Mauser turnbolt, with a Federal 20" barrel in 6.5x55mm, Herter's stock, Timney trigger, and and a Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x40mm scope in Warne Maxima rings. I'll be using Federal Vital-Shok 140 gr pointed soft point factory ammo to start with this fall, since it's already sighted for that. It's lightweight, reliable, pleasant to shoot, usable at all ranges, and is very very deadly. I consider it pretty much the perfect whitetail rifle. But for a really lightweight dude for humping deep into the woods, I like my poor-man's mountain rifle, which is a Rossi Single Shot in .243 Win, sporting a Simmons Master Series Aetec 2.8-10x44mm in Burris rings. Ammo - haven't decided what it likes yet. Pretty much anything from 75 grains up to 105 grains will kill a whitetail if you hit them correctly.
However, I'm not going to rifle hunt even during gun season unless and until I've gotten a deer with my bow this year first (I will however, participate in the brief muzzleloader season, since chances are high then - that's pre-rut time).
But you can kill a deer with darn near anything, if you hit it in the right spot, so it's mostly a matter of personal preference as to rifle and caliber. But a turnbolt is popular because it works well under extreme conditions of cold, dirt, etc, is easy to clean, typically quite accurate, and can handle all types of ammo. Just buy one, and then they will start to multiply. I've got turnbolts, leverguns, and single shots for hunting, not to mention bows and muzzleloaders. Just do yourself a favor and buy high quality scope and RINGS too!
Of the "borrowed guns" you've used, which one(s) did you like the best ?
Yes, this is an excellent question.